Lemon Tree No More???

[Alan Cynic]

This old fart can confirm they've been putting on great (and well-attended) folk gigs:up:

[saf-one]

The thing is, the Lemon Tree is a far superior venue to both Moshulu and the Tunnels in almost every respect. In terms of comfort, service, accessibility, sound quality, cleanliness and atmosphere (on both busy and more relaxed nights) it beats both of them comfortably. What they've been lacking is the wherewithall to challenge other venues in terms of volume and quality of gigs due to their situation.

If the Lemon Tree were to be run as a business, along the same lines as Moshulu or The Tunnels, and didn't have to worry about their commitments to community programmes and workshops and experimental theatre and all the other loss-making projects it housed it would give them a serious run for its money.

I still believe that the loss of the Tree, even in its present state, will be a massive loss to the music community. It offers something that neither of the other two venues can, and that's a touch of class. Moshulu and the Tunnels are both grungy and very basic in terms of facilities. That's OK for folk like us, we're used to it, but the Lemon Tree often put on gigs that attracted a different, more, er, (diplomatic hat on) respectable crowd than the usual Aberdeen gig-goers. I can't imagine seeing Chris Hillman, or Bert Jansch, or Odetta, or indeed anyone of that status in the folk/blues/jazz/country sector being staged effectively with the same sense of occasion anywhere in Aberdeen but the Lemon Tree. That's a very big market which is perhaps divergent from the Aberdeen music scene as we see it, but the loss of the LT will be keenly felt in those circles.

Well said.

(PS. I apologise for some of the bad language in my previous posts - Its been a stressfull day)

[Hog]

The council subsidy for the AECC is much, much more than the Lemon Tree ever got.

Indeed, I can imagine it is a much bigger budget but the AECC has appeared to be making more effort as of late.

Two very different venues I agree.

[breakzrus]

.

this is fucking pish, the lemon tree was awsome! sssssssso many legends have played / performed there. ohhhhhh those days of radioskool - best of my life. fact.

But by the looks of the efforts been made by supporters and staff hopefully this will only be a temporary close down.

[saf-one]

this is fucking pish, the lemon tree was awsome! sssssssso many legends have played / performed there. ohhhhhh those days of radioskool - best of my life. fact.

But by the looks of the efforts been made by supporters and staff hopefully this will only be a temporary close down.

Radioskool was class!! Loved that night.

We can only hope.

[all_his_engines]

I simply can't believe that more people don't see the closure of the Lemon Tree for the absolute tragedy that it clearly is, and also for the massive blow to the Aberdeen music scene that it represents.

In the last year alone, I've attended about a dozen totally amazing gigs there, and there were many more on the cards for 2008. To compare LT to Moshulu or The Tunnels is foolhardy, as it was (as has already been pointed out) a vastly superior venue in almost every way, and attracted a wider range of performances/crowds. Also, it had a great reputation among artists. Danny Schmidt, an American artist who played there a couple of weeks ago, told me that the main reason he came to Aberdeen was the good things he'd from other musicians about the Lemon Tree.

After the experiences I've had playing there with No Pasaran, I had to agree wholeheartedly with him that the LT staff knew how to take care of performers. Not only was the sound always superb, but they treated us like guests, rather than the unwanted nuiscance that a lot of venues appear to think musicians are.

I don't hold with any of this talk of wasting public money. If ever there was a project that needed to have as much public money poured into it as possible, it was the Lemon Tree. That's what taxes are bloody well for! The loss of this venue in particular is a mortal blow for any reputation that Aberdeen may have had as a city of the arts. It simply means that far less music/comedy/theatre performers will come this far north, and I think we can all agree that's shockingly bad news.

PS: Aberdeen is the only city I've ever been in where people will balk at paying 15 to see a relatively well-known band. That's standard fare pretty much everywhere else, people. It doesn't do Aberdonians' reputation for being misers any good.

[Jim Stax]

Councillor Clyne rounded off a nice article in the P and J today with a fair and realistic point...

"Now people have that much more choice of places to go and see music and comedy and theatre, and maybe it has served its purpose.

"Hopefully we can say that the Lemon Tree gave a kick start to the performing arts scene we have in Aberdeen today, and that will live on, even if the venue itself doesn't."

Not so sure about the Theatre bit but I would say he wasn't far off the mark.

Can I ask what happens to any money raised through donations if the 'Save The LT' thing doesn't work? Seems like folly to me to pour water into a leaky bucket. There was a similar scenario around Drakes. Decisions were made by myself and others that it just wasn't a viable business to inject cash into hence the closure. Hard but right choice!

[Alan Cynic]

I'm with all_his_engines on this one.......I tend to think there's some council subterfuge going on.

[chilli]

Councillor Clyne rounded off a nice article in the P and J today with a fair and realistic point...

"Now people have that much more choice of places to go and see music and comedy and theatre, and maybe it has served its purpose.

"Hopefully we can say that the Lemon Tree gave a kick start to the performing arts scene we have in Aberdeen today, and that will live on, even if the venue itself doesn't."

Not so sure about the Theatre bit but I would say he wasn't far off the mark.

Can I ask what happens to any money raised through donations if the 'Save The LT' thing doesn't work? Seems like folly to me to pour water into a leaky bucket. There was a similar scenario around Drakes. Decisions were made by myself and others that it just wasn't a viable business to inject cash into hence the closure. Hard but right choice!

that would be fine in itself if Aberdeen Council wasn't pumping millions of squids into AECC

if the folk that are trying there damnest to do something positive in the last 13days of The Lemon Tree, let them try, if there is money left they can have a firework display in the rain & what they will have is damp squib, just like what the Aberdeen music scene will be like post LT. Popular BLAND will win the day.

Whatever will happen next..............

[stuartmaxwell]

just like what the Aberdeen music scene will be like post LT. Popular BLAND will win the day.

Whatever will happen next..............

we had a grim outlook when drakes closed its doors for the last time, and look at the progress that was made!

every cloud...

[Ollie]

i want to die

[Stichman]

I reckon someone should buy up the building and relauch it solely as a music venue/club. With the right managment, it could do a flyer - as has already been said a number of times, it's technically a much better venue than Tunnels and Moshulu.

[senseless]

What I don't think people on here understand is that we haven't just lost a music venue, we have just lost Scotland's leading arts organisations.

My first experience of The Lemon Tree goes back over a decade to when I was doing drumming workshops on a Saturday morning. I've also been to summer schools there and was a member of the Lemon Tree Youth Theatre since its inception. This gave me many opportunites including the chance to perform one of our productions in Glasgow in front of other young people from across Europe, MSPs, MPs and MEPs.

Since then, I've attended so many gigs. However, to an extent I agree with some people on here: there are still places to go for gigs in Aberdeen (albiet, nowhere near as suitable as The Lemon Tree was for folk / jazz / blues / traditional / experimental). This is not what it was all about though. WE HAVE LOST A VITAL ORGANISATION WHICH, TO A HUGE EXTENT, WILL TAKE ABERDEEN OFF THE CULTURAL TOURING MAP WHICH THE LEMON TREE HELPED TO GET US ON IN THE FIRST PLACE. There is now no professional small or medium scale theatre in Aberdeen which is capable of promoting the same quantity and quality of theatre / dance / comedy / kids' shows that they did.

You only have to look at the press's phenomomenal coverage on this story over the past couple of days. The Times, The Herald, The Scotsman, Radio Scotland, Radio 2, BBC One Scotland, STV and GMTV have all shown that they are appalled at this shock move.

Yesterday's Tom Morton show on BBC radio was dedicated to his own and listeners' fantastic memories of the place.

The Lemon Tree was set up 'to provide somewhere for artists that would not otherwise get the opportunity to play in Aberdeen' I wholeheartedly believe that they achieved this to the best of their ability, considering all the financial and pressure they have been in since day one.

I believe we must all fight to save what has become part of our cultural heritage. I have grown up with this place and don't want to imagine the faces of the disabled drama group when they are told they can no longer meet or the over 50s drama group or choir that they have nowhere to perform.

SAVE THE LEMON TREE - Save The Lemon Tree - Home

The best way forward, from what I can see, is to spread the word even more than we already have and let your employers know about the campaign!

[jcn]

The site doesn't give you details of how you can help....? Do you take Paypal? ;-)

[geo1903]

SAVE THE LEMON TREE - Save The Lemon Tree - Home

The best way forward, from what I can see, is to spread the word even more than we already have and let your employers know about the campaign!

This 150K, whats it actually for? Just to pay October/Novembers bills or what?

Happy to contribute though, and hopefully everyone will email the link to the fundraising site to as much people as possible.

[Neil]

This 150K, whats it actually for? Just to pay October/Novembers bills or what?

Exactly. Are they going to need another 150k in a few months time when they fail to balance their books again? You can't just keep throwing cash at it.

I'm all for saving The Lemon Tree as a venue but I certainly wouldn't want the same people running it.

[The Kernel Loaf]

SAVE THE LEMON TREE - Save The Lemon Tree - Home

The best way forward, from what I can see, is to spread the word even more than we already have and let your employers know about the campaign!

It was nice of you to make it look as disgusting as the old website.

[exlemonemployee]

Well it was made in about 24 hours...

The link to paypal will be put up soon as we still need to wait for the bank details. And the names and addresses of everyone who donates will be recorded so the money can be given back if we don't make it.

[Jim Stax]

we had a grim outlook when drakes closed its doors for the last time, and look at the progress that was made!

every cloud...

Don't mention Cloud!

Give all the funding to the (most) local promoters and let them run riot in the place for a year no questions asked. I would put money (I'm not going to) on that being a success in many ways that fit into the existing and in development 'future cultural bill'.

I may be coming across as not giving a crap but this isn't the case. Great staff down there at the grass roots level that did their darndest to make it work and should be applauded for this.

Yes is a big loss to many but there is much wealth to be spread in and around the city now. Sourcing new spaces for theatre and performance, independent initiatives having to make it work in other ways and to new audiences being exposed to things in other spaces are on the tip of the iceberg if the energy and will is there. We should all now be banging loudly on the council's door and demanding they support good ideas and assist in some manner. They have to listen and there are some there now that will, I hope.

Projects may require a bit more effort for some for a while but end results should be very rewarding and can lead to new and exciting ideas.

One idea mentioned earlier in the thread about separating the commercial and charity side of the LT and how the venue is used strikes me as having potential. Part of it's problem, if not the biggest, was having 'to be all things to all men'. Some serious thinking and planning and and efficient and well conceived business plan and strategy could get the money folk sctratching heads. Just caught my thinking as the evening went on is all...

Time will tell... I would like to have seen and see the difference if it was run, at the very top, by people who truly gave a shit!

...

[jaketekkie]

I'm with all_his_engines on this one.......I tend to think there's some council subterfuge going on.

2 weeks ago, the p&j mentioned that the LT was in trouble and the council was going to offer us 250k, this information was leaked by a senior councillor. The board didn't hear anything about this.

On Tuesday, the press reported that there were 2 options offered to the board, from the council, to save the Lemon Tree. Only one was actually mentioned by their 'messenger'.

This only offer was for, wait for it, 250k.

I only wish that changes were put in place, like drastic cuts. to counter this council subterfuge .

I started working there, straight out of school, in 1993. I am very pround of what we achived. , even if we tried to do too much ( which was probably the main problem).

Live music costs so much to do properly, we tried to do it as properly as we could.

Only Barfly, Carling academies and Donald trump can afford to do Live music now.

[Mothership]

2 weeks ago, the p&j mentioned that the LT was in trouble and the council was going to offer us 250k, this information was leaked by a senior councillor. The board didn't hear anything about this.

On Tuesday, the press reported that there were 2 options offered to the board, from the council, to save the Lemon Tree. Only one was actually mentioned by their 'messenger'.

This only offer was for, wait for it, 250k.

I see Aberdeen Journals are demonstrating once more the fair and balanced journalism that they have shown throughout the Trump shenanigans.?(?(

Surely that saviour of the North East and well known philanthropist Donald Trump will sail to the rescue to demonstrate his dedication to culture and the desires of the local population? As we all know, he has our interests at heart more than the council. Well, that's what the P&J tells me, so it must be true!

[Alan Cynic]

You could be right...Trump will offer to save the Lemon Tree as a thank you for his Scottish roots......oh, but, as part of the plan he'll demolish Union Street and build 20 executive casinos (built by Stewart Milne, so that only 5 addicted millionaire gamblers who weigh less than 12 stones each can be in each one at the same time, in case the floors collapse).

But of course he'll do it tastefully, with each building being in tartan brick, with chrome turrets echoing Balmoral castle, and cartoons of Scottish kings in a frieze along every wall.

[Scootray]

You could be right...Trump will offer to save the Lemon Tree as a thank you for his Scottish roots......oh, but, as part of the plan he'll demolish Union Street and build 20 executive casinos (built by Stewart Milne, so that only 5 addicted millionaire gamblers who weigh less than 12 stones each can be in each one at the same time, in case the floors collapse).

But of course he'll do it tastefully, with each building being in tartan brick, with chrome turrets echoing Balmoral castle, and cartoons of Scottish kings in a frieze along every wall.

I like it!

Seriously, you're not a secret designer for Trump are you?

[Guest Steven Dedalus]

People are still complaining about Drakes closing but the few times i was there, there was only about half a dozen folk in the place (one of which was Steven Dedalus... each time... Fun!)

I loved Drakes....

To be fair, I think Aberdeen has gone downhill since I left.

Anyway, great times at the Lemon Tree:

Handsome Family (the day I decided I could play music)

A performance of "Arcadia" by Tom Stoppard (lovely times being in love)

The Abysmalists night (Best gig of all time)

The Fudge Awards in 2003 (They tried to throw me out, but they couldn't)

Alan Magee's Death Disco (we got in for free, but still asked for our money back)

The Delgados (I'm still sorry for ruining that one, Dave. But I had my fun, and that's all that matters)

Sunday lunch (yums!)

Lifestyle (I shouted about HUsker DU. Then I fell over)

Stiff Little Fingers 2004 (I was the DJ, and the crowd booed the staff when I was turned off. I also got two kisses)

Every gig I ever played there (Thank you Lemon Tree for treating me kindly and letting me know that I wasn't just some fool, but a person who appeared to have talent and creativity)

I shall miss thee.

[Gemz]

You could be right...Trump will offer to save the Lemon Tree as a thank you for his Scottish roots......oh, but, as part of the plan he'll demolish Union Street and build 20 executive casinos (built by Stewart Milne, so that only 5 addicted millionaire gamblers who weigh less than 12 stones each can be in each one at the same time, in case the floors collapse).

But of course he'll do it tastefully, with each building being in tartan brick, with chrome turrets echoing Balmoral castle, and cartoons of Scottish kings in a frieze along every wall.

PMSL...

8-)